The University of Liverpool is a pivotal participant in a groundbreaking £2 million national initiative aimed at bolstering the knowledge, action, and resilience of UK coastal communities and marine environments.
This ambitious project, known as the COAST-R Network, is partly funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) under the Resilient Coastal Communities and Seas programme.
It represents a significant portion of a £14.8 million investment into place-based research projects designed to enhance resilience, wellbeing, and sustainability across the United Kingdom.
An Interdisciplinary Effort
The COAST-R Network brings together academic teams from several prestigious institutions, including the Universities of Hull, Liverpool, Glasgow, Leeds, Southampton, and Aberystwyth University.
These teams are collaborating with coastal and marine partners, as well as local communities across all four UK nations, to generate and disseminate knowledge that will build resilience in coastal and marine environments.
At the University of Liverpool, the project is led by Professor Neil Macdonald from the Department of Geography and Planning, alongside colleagues Professor Andrew Plater and Dr. Charlotte Lyddon.
“UK coasts face many of our most significant resilience challenges, with coastal and estuarine communities living with social and health inequalities, rising sea levels, and coastal erosion, to name but a few challenges. Yet conventional models of coastal management sometimes fail to capture and understand local needs, understanding and experiences of coastal change,”
Professor Macdonald explains.
“COAST-R will work collaboratively across sectors and build skills, knowledge, and collaboration to ensure those most impacted by climate change have a key voice in the decision-making process around coastal resilience.”
Objectives of the COAST-R Network
The COAST-R Network has established five primary objectives to guide its efforts:
Sharing Knowledge and Best Practices: The network aims to disseminate learnings and best practices across various sectors and disciplines to enhance the resilience of UK coastal and marine environments.
Co-Designing Events and Training: By co-designing a range of events, training sessions, and mentoring programs, the network seeks to improve partnership working and cultivate the next generation of resilience champions.
Responding to Priority Needs: In collaboration with coastal communities and other partners, the network will identify and address priority needs using its Flexible Fund, which is designed to adapt to emerging challenges and opportunities.
Collating Insights and Resources: The network will gather key insights, case studies, and resources, which will be made available through its website and other outputs, to support ongoing learning and application.
Building Evaluation and Legacy: Practitioner and community-led evaluations of the network’s activities and funded projects will shape future learning, ensure lasting impacts, and inform subsequent funding opportunities.
Building a Resilient Future
The COAST-R Network is part of the UKRI Strategy, “Transforming Tomorrow Together,” which seeks to enhance the UK’s environmental resilience through place-based research projects.
This strategy is set to receive a £24.3 million boost, with four large projects funded under the Resilient Coastal Communities and Seas Programme to be announced soon.
Additionally, numerous projects are focusing on place-based approaches to an environmentally sustainable future.
Collaborative and Multi-Disciplinary Funding
The COAST-R Network’s funding is a collaborative effort involving multiple organizations and councils, including UKRI, the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the National Environment Research Council (NERC), and DEFRA.
This interdisciplinary funding approach ensures a comprehensive examination of the issues at hand and fosters innovative solutions.
Addressing Coastal Challenges
UK coastal areas are confronted with numerous resilience challenges. Coastal and estuarine communities often face social and health inequalities, rising sea levels, and coastal erosion.
Conventional models of coastal management can fall short in capturing and understanding local needs and experiences of coastal change.
The COAST-R Network aims to address these gaps by working collaboratively across sectors and building skills, knowledge, and cooperation to ensure that those most affected by climate change have a prominent voice in decision-making processes regarding coastal resilience.
Community Involvement and Flexible Funding
One of the key strengths of the COAST-R Network is its commitment to involving local communities in the resilience-building process.
By partnering with coastal communities, the network ensures that local perspectives and needs are integral to the project’s outcomes.
The Flexible Fund is a vital component of this strategy, allowing the network to respond dynamically to the evolving needs of coastal communities and to support innovative, community-led initiatives.
Enhancing Knowledge and Best Practices
By sharing knowledge and best practices across sectors and disciplines, the COAST-R Network aims to build a robust foundation for coastal and marine resilience.
This involves not only academic research but also practical applications and policy recommendations.
The network’s activities will generate valuable insights that can inform future strategies and initiatives, both within the UK and globally.
Training and Mentorship
The COAST-R Network is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of resilience champions through co-designed events, training sessions, and mentorship programs.
These initiatives are crucial for developing the skills and knowledge needed to tackle the complex challenges facing coastal communities.
By fostering a culture of learning and collaboration, the network aims to create a lasting impact that extends beyond the duration of the project.
Legacy and Future Learning
The COAST-R Network is not just focused on immediate outcomes but is also committed to building a lasting legacy.
Practitioner and community-led evaluations will play a crucial role in shaping future learning and ensuring that the network’s activities have a long-term impact.
By continuously assessing and refining its approaches, the network aims to create sustainable, resilient coastal communities that can thrive in the face of climate change and other challenges.
A National and Global Model
The COAST-R Network’s approach to building coastal resilience through interdisciplinary collaboration, community involvement, and flexible funding can serve as a model for other regions and countries facing similar challenges.
By leveraging the strengths of various stakeholders and fostering a culture of innovation and cooperation, the network aims to create solutions that are both effective and sustainable.
The COAST-R Network represents a significant step forward in addressing the complex challenges facing UK coastal communities.
Through its interdisciplinary approach, community involvement, and commitment to sharing knowledge and best practices, the network aims to build resilience, enhance wellbeing, and promote sustainability.
As part of the broader UKRI strategy, “Transforming Tomorrow Together,” the COAST-R Network is poised to make a lasting impact on coastal and marine resilience, setting the stage for a more sustainable and resilient future for the UK and beyond.
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